[hr][hr]  
[h3][color=dc143c][b] 7:40 PM Friday, June 13th 1980 - Lava Lake, BC, Canada[/b][/color][/h3]  
[hr]

[@KazAlkemi][@Achronum][@kittyluna45][@Morose][@Trainerblue192]
[hr] 

Outside the main cabin where everyone ate and chatted, the cabins sat silent beneath the trees. The fire pit was cold. The dock stretched into the darkening lake without a soul upon it. The sun still hovered above the western mountains, but the towering walls of the volcanic caldera had stolen the light hours before sunset. Long shadows poured across the camp like ink spilled over paper. The clearing remained washed in soft gold, while only a few yards beyond the buildings, the forest had already faded into deep blue-gray twilight.

Lava Lake reflected none of it.

The water had become a smooth sheet of obsidian, so still that it looked less like a lake than an open wound cut into the landscape. The surrounding mountains rose from its shores in jagged silhouettes, their peaks still catching the last rays of sunlight while the valleys below surrendered to darkness. The woods waited in silence. Not the peaceful silence of evening, but an unnatural absence of life. No chickadees argued from the branches. No squirrels rustled through fallen needles. Even the crickets seemed reluctant to cross the invisible boundary where the camp ended and the old forest began. A breeze finally stirred, gentle enough to ripple the leaves of the oak.

The branches creaked. Somewhere beneath the porch, hidden by the tangled roots that disappeared into the foundation, came a dull, muffled sound.

[i]Scrape.[/i]

Then silence.

A moment later, [i]scrape... scrape.[/i]

It was faint, like metal dragged slowly across stone somewhere deep underground. Inside the cabin, no one heard it. They were talking, flirting, considering their situation and eating some damn good burgers. 

[hr][hr]  
[center][h1][color=2B9311]Emily[/color][/h1]  
[img]https://i.imgur.com/ZcwZwWn.jpeg[/img]  
[hr]  
[color=2B9311]Location[/color]: Camp Lava Lake
[color=2B9311]Skills[/color]: [/center]  
[hr][hr] 

[color=2B9311] “He is my private chef,”[/color] Em said with a laugh and a wink. [color=2B9311] “But I’m happy to share him with the rest of you for now.”[/color] She had a thought about baking and quickly added some important ingredients for the marshmallow stuffed cookies she made. 

[color=2B9311] “Add to the list or forever hold your peace,”[/color] she said as she slid the list down the table for everyone to add to if they wanted. 

[color=2B9311] “I’d appreciate the help, but it’ll be very early. I’ll have to leave at 5 to get to the trail head at 6.”[/color] Em didn’t [i]want[/i] to do that, but helping Dobbs bring in everything they had ordered would be a good idea. There was no way he could carry it all down the trail by himself. 

Em leaned back into Marco. Appreciating his presence. Appreciating his food. She felt warm and happy. She shook her head at Zeke and Demi’s antics. She felt bad for Nancy and planned to make a point of hanging out with her during this week so she didn’t feel lonely. Aster was capable of taking care of himself. But from what Em had gathered Nancy wasn’t used to being a third wheel. 

Dobbs finished his food and stood up to clear his spot. “Thanks, that was a good burger,” he complemented the chef. “I’m gonna gather up my stuff and head out. I’ll swing back in a few and grab the list.” He nodded to the piece of paper that Em had slid across the table.